Collapsible pool



Jan- 16, 1968 A. P. FRIEDLANDER 3,363,268

COLLAPSIBLE POOL Filed June 8, 1965 FIG. 2.

INVENTOR ALAN P. FRIEDLANDER ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O 3,363,268 COLLAPSIBLE POOL Alan P. Friedlander,Searington, N.Y., assigner to Alvimar Manufacturing Company, Inc., NewYork, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 8, 1965, Ser. No.462,291 3 Claims. (Cl. L-172) ABSTRACT F 'I'HE DISCLOSURE An inflatableswimming pool which includes a flexible sheet-like floor bonded to apneumatically inflatable peripherally extending ring above which issecured a flexible hydraulically inflatable ring having a plurality ofapertures through which the inilating water may pass to produce a sprayfor said swimming pool.

This invention relates to the art of collapsible pools, moreparticularly to an improved collapsible pool structure provided with afountain system formed integrally therewith permitting simultaneousbathing and showering of the occupants in the pool.

With increased leisure time there has been a corresponding increase inoutdoor activities. Thus, home outdoor pools for use in backyards or onterraces have become increasingly commonplace. In an attempt to bringsuch pools down in cost so as to make them readily available to theaverage consumer, sheet plastics have been employed for fabrication ofsuch pools. Among the pool structures which have been evolved is acollapsible pool particularly adapted for use by children. Suchchildrens pools are generally made vquite shallow for reasons of safety.The problem with such relatively shallow pool structures is that thoughthey serve to immerse the lower extremities of the user to providedesired cooling, the upper part of the body of the user, who is normallyseated in the pool, is exposed to the heat of the surroundingatmosphere.

It is with the above problems and desiderata in mind that the presentimproved pool structure has been evolved, a pool structure adapted forfabrication of sheet plastics which lends itself to ready collapse forstorage, and assembly into an operative orientation, and serving toprovide means for cooling the normally exposed upper extremities of theuser of such pools.

Among the primary objects of this invention is to provide an improvedcollapsible pool structure which affords maximum safety to childrenwhile serving to wet both upper and lower portions of the body of theuser.

- Another object of the invention is to provide an improved collapsiblepool structure providing a combined bath and shower.

A further object of the invention is to provide a co1- lapsible poolstructure, suitable for use in a backyard or the like, and adapted forready setup.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved collapsiblepool structure combined with a shower adapted for fabrication of sheetplastics by the use of conventional plastics forming techniques.

These and other objects of the invention which will become hereafterapparent are achieved by forming a collapsible pool of a lower baseshaped in any desired peripheral contour. The base is formed of sheetmaterial, preferably a sheet plastic of a `circular peripheral contour.The sidewalls of the pool are formed by means of continuous airtightflexible walled tubular members. In the illustrated preferredembodiment, the wall is formed with a lower tubular frame member securedto the periphery of the base, and an upper tubular cushion member3,363,268 Patented Jan. 16, 1968 serving to provide a back rest for theuser of the pool. Arranged along the top of the cushion tube is a showertube extending peripherally around the contines of the wall. This showertube is provided with a hose coupling adapted flor connection to aconventional garden hose so that water may be fed through the showertube. The shower tube is formed with a plurality of spaced dischargeorifices through which water may be directed over the occupants of thepool.

Among the features of the invention is the formation of the tubes usedin forming the pool sidewall of a folded oversheet of thermoplasticmaterial,A heat sealed along a line defining the different tubes.

A further important feature of the invention resides in the formation ofthe sidewall of the pool with a cushion tube larger than the frame tube,thereby serving to cushion the back of a user of the pool and forcingthe occupant into a seated position in the pool.

Another feature resides in the use of a pressure control Washer toinsure the feeding of water -below a maximum pressure to the showertube.

The specific details of a preferred embodiment of the invention andtheir mode of functioning will be made most manifest and particularlypointed out in clear, concise and exact terms in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of thecollapsible pool shown in use; and

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 2 2 of FIG. 1illustrating the structural relationship between the shower tube, thecushion tube and the frame tube with respect to the base; and

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1,illustrating the use of the pressure control washer serving to providedesired shower pressure.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, like numerals in thevarious gures will be employed to designate like parts.

As seen in the drawings, the pool 10 is shown as formed of a circularconfiguration. As will however be apparent to those skilled in the art,the peripheral configuration of the pool may be made of any desiredshape.

The pool is formed with a base 14, as best seen in FIG. 2. The base 14is fabricated of a flexible sheet material preferably of thermoplasticresins such as the vinyl resins or polyolefns. Polyvinyl `chlorideplastisol is found particularly suitable.

A -continuous sidewall 15 is formed to extend peripherally around theedge of the base 14. Sidewall 15 comprises a lower continuous tubularframe member 17, preferably fabricated of thermoplastic material likethe base 14. Tubular frame member 17 is continuous and substantiallyair. tight. A valved air inlet opening 18, as shown in FIG. 1, of anyone of a variety of conventional types is provided to permit inflationof the tubular frame member 17. It is preferred that this valved airinlet opening 18 be of the type permitting oral inflation ofthe tube.

Arranged above lower tubular frame member 17 is a tubular cushion member20 which as illustrated in FIG. 2 is preferably formed of a diametergreater than that of the diameter of tubular frame member 17. Cushiontubular member 20 is formed of a flexible sheet material, preferably ofa thermoplastic resin like that of base 14 and lower tubular member 17.Tubular cushion member 20 is continuous and airtight, and is formed witha valved air inlet opening 21, as best seen in FIG. 1. Air inlet opening21 is formed of a type like valved air inlet opening '18 preferably of atype permitting oral inflation of the tube 20 Secured above tubularcushion member 20, as best seen in FIG. 2, is a shower tube 25 which isformed like tubular members 20 and 17 of a flexible sheet material,preferably a thermoplastic resin. A plurality of spaced dischargeorifices 26 is arranged preferably along the inner upper quadrant of thetube 25 so that any liquid discharged through the discharge orices 26 isinwardly directed toward the center of the pool area confined by theside wall 15.

Shower tube 25 is formed with a hose coupling 28, as seen in FIG. 1, towhich a hose 29 is adapted for securement. The dimensioning of the hosecoupling 28 is such as to accommodate a common garden hose which isemployed in forming hose 29.

A hose coupling 30 as best seen in FIG. 3 is provided on the free end ofhose 29, and a pressure control washer 32 having an orifice 33 isprovided for insertion into the hose coupling 30 so as to reduce the owof water through the hose 29. Orifice 33 is preferably less than halfthe area of washer 32.

In fabricating the pool 10, it is preferred to .form the tubularcomponents of the sidewall 15 by folding a sheet of thermoplasticmaterial over on itself along a medial line which would normally liealong the top edge 3S of the sidewall 15 as Viewed in FIG. 2.Thereafter, an upper heat seal 36 is formed at a distance from the topfold 35 such as to permit shower tube 25 to be formed of desireddimension. An intermediate heat seal 37 is formed along a line spacedfrom the line of heat seal 36 to provide proper dimensioning to cushiontube 20, and a lower heat seal 38 is formed between the folded oversheet material to form frame tube 17, leaving iaps 39 and 40. Flaps 39and 40 permit ready securement of the sidewall 15 to the base 14 byforming a heat seal 41 between flaps 39 and 40 and the edge portion ofbase 14.

Operation The aforedescribed pool lends itself to use in any situationWhere it is desired to provide a pool in which water may be contained,and simultaneously providing a shower sprinkler. In general use, thepool structure finds particular utility in providing a combined pool andshower for use by young children serving to permit the children to playin the cooling water with minimum supervision due to the relativeshallowness of the pool, while keeping the upper part of the child wetby the shower.

The pool is set up by inating the frame tube 17 and sidewall tube 20,preferably by yblowing into the valved air inlet orifices 18 and 21 ofsaid tubes. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that thevalves serve to retain any air blown into the tube. By inflation of thetubes, the eXible base 14 is distended to lie flat along the bottom ofthe area confined by the inated tubes. Bottom frame tube 17 acts as aframe serving to maintain the base 14 in its operative spread outcondition.

The cushion tube 20, which as illustrated, is formed of a larger crosssectional diameter than that of frame tube f 17 provides a cushioningback rest for any occupants of the pool, and -by virtue of the fact thatthe cushioning tube 20 extends further into the confined pool area thanany other portion of the sidewalls of the pool, this cushioning tube 20acts to prevent inadvertent slipping of an occupant along the sidewalls,since an occupant leaning against the sidewall will be pushed forwardinto a seated position.

After setting up the pool into its operative condition by inating tubemembers 17 and 20, hose 29 is connected to an appropriate faucet, withwasher 32 interposed inthe hose line 29. Upon opening the faucet waterflows through the shower tube 25 from which it is sprayed through thedischarge orifices 26. In the preferred embodiment, these dischargeorifices are oriented on the upper inner quadrant of the circular crosssection through the shower tube 25, as a result of which the showerspray is inwardly directed over the pool area.

During periods of non-use, when it is desired to store the pool, thehose 29 is disconnected from the hose spigot and the valves in airopenings 21 and 18 are opened to permit escape of the air from the tubes17 and 20, as a result of which the pool structure may be collapsed andfolded into a relatively compact volume for storage.

It is thus seen that a simple pool structure has been provided which mayreadily be fabricated of sheet plastics by simple heat sealingtechniques.

The above disclosure has been given by way of illustration andelucidation, and not by way of limitation and it is desired to protectall embodiments of the herein disclosed inventive concept within thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible pool comprising a flexible base formed of a circularsheet of thermoplastic material; a sidewall for said base comprising asheet of thermoplastic material folded over on itself along a fold linelying along the normally upper edge of said sidewall; an upper sealalong a line spaced from said fold line to define a water-inflatableshower tube between said upper line of heat sealing and said fold line,said shower tube having spaced discharge orifices therein facinginwardly over said base; an

intermediate heat seal along a line spaced from saidV upper heat sealforming an air-inflatable cushion tube beneath said shower tube; a lowerheat seal along a line spaced from said intermediate line forming anairinatable frame tube; means securing said frame tube to said base;means for coupling a water hose to said shower tube; and means forcoupling a source of air to said cushion tube and to said frame tube.

2. The pool of claim 1 wherein said means securing said frame tube tosaid base comprise aps beneath said lower heat seal, said flaps beingheat sealed to said base.

3. A collapsible pool comprising: a flexible base of circular periphery;a flexible, air-inflatable circular frame tube secured to said base; aflexible, air-inflatable circular cushion tube secured to said frametube; means for coupling a source of air to said cushion tube and tosaid frame tube; a flexible, water-inatable circular shower tube securedto said cushion tube, said shower tube having a plurality of spaceddischarge orifices therein facing inwardly over said base; and means forcoupling a water hose to said shower tube.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,284,139 11/1918 Ponic 4-1502,084,236 6/1937 Babb 4--177 2,100,186 11/1937 Hagopian 4-150 2,456,70312/ 1948 Hatchette 4-145 2,689,812 9/1954 Mollica et al. 52--2 2,829,3794/ 1958 McGee 4-145 2,838,768 6/1958 Fischett -..i- 4-177 LAVERN-E D.GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner,

